Chapter 1
Briarlight decided to take the late bus today. Her mom was the CEO of a major food company, and her dad was a social worker; they were all very busy today, attending meetings and that grown-up stuff.
She had a nice day at school today, with her best friend Poppyfrost of course. She flipped out her cell phone to text Poppyfrost to see if she was staying after.
Briarlight: Hey Poppy. So, u staying after school today?
Poppyfrost: i am. I am going to meet up with Berrynose in the library.
Brirarlight: GR8. Going to the auditorium to practice cello.
Poppyfrost: Cello? Again?! Geez, u are way too dedicated to tht thing.Y don't u meet me at the library?
Briarlight: Well Im frst chair for the cello section in all-county orchestra. Tht's a high ranking. In addition, u and Berrynose are like, together, so it's a chance to have some alone time, u know?
Poppyfrost: i guess. have fun doing yr cello thingy… ;)
Briarlight: bye J
Briarlight started her long lonely walk to the auditorium on her crutches. She got them when she fell off stage during a orchestra rehersal and broke her leg.
She was crestfallen that Poppyfrost spent more time with Berrynose then with her. They've been friends since pre-school. Will all that change? She wondered and headed off.
After a long prestigious walk, Briarlight finally reached the auditorium. She slipped into the instrument room and took out a cello. She strolled into the auditorium to find that to her surprise, somebody was there. She recognized the face immediately; Jayfeather. He was known to be a very moody person, as his sister Hollyleaf had said to her once. He was quick to argue and usually had a tart attitude.
He sat center stage, on a stool and a guitar in his hand. He felt for the stand in front of him and sadly pushed it away. He had been blind ever since he got into a car accident and fell of a guardrail. His dark hair covered one of his ice blue eyes. He didn't notice that Briarlight was staring at him intently. He started to play, the chords spilling out endlessly from the guitar. He was playing a very familiar song. She craned her neck onto the stage and gazed at him as he sang.
Summer has come and passed
The innocent can never last
Wake me up when September ends
Like my father's come to past
Seven years has gone so fast
Wake me up when September ends
Here comes the rain again
Falling from the stars
Drenched in my pain again
Becoming who we are
As my memory rests
However, never forgets what I have lost
Wake me up when September ends
Summer has come and passed
The innocent can never last
Wake me up when September ends
Jayfeather's voice faded as he swung his head around towards Briarlight's direction. The murky depths of his cold blue eyes stared into hers intensely. He looked at her as if asking why she was here.
"I'm sorry I was listening. The singing just drew me in and stuff… It was good. I just love that song. I'll go away," Briarlight started saying as she sadly walked away. Rejected by a blind guy! Wow, two people rejected me at… Her thoughts were interrupted by a voice.
"It's okay Briarlight, you can stay. I'll get off the stage if you want. I'm pretty sure you have your cello with you."
"No, it's fine, really, but I wan to ask you a favor." Briarlight hesitated. She knew that there was a 50 percent chance that he would say no to what she was about to ask him. He didn't know him well, but she needed him to do this.
"Well what is it," he asked mildly.
"I just wanted to know if you could teach me that song, you know, the one you played on the guitar. It was just so beautiful."
Jayfeather bent his neck to one side and put his hand to his chin, as if he was thinking. After a while he said, "Sure, meet me here tomorrow after school."
"Okay sure," Briarlight packed up the cello and put it back on the rack and then hobbled outside of the doors on her crutches. Both of them left with very light and happy hearts.